Improvement in registering yard-measures



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN OONNER, OF PITTSBURG, ASSIGNOR' TO INEZ L. CONNER, OFOONNELLSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT'IN REGISTERING YARD-MEASURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 74.487, dated March7, 1876; application filed February 16, 1876.

To all whom fit may concern Be it known that I, JOHN UONNER, ofPittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and in the State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yard-Measures; anddo hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecication.

My invention relates to yard-sticks, and has for its object to enablethe salesman to correctly measure any quantity of goods desired withoutcounting the same, and thus allow him at the same time to entertain hiscustomer. To this end, the nature of my invention consists in combiningwith a yard-stick a suitable registering mechanism, as will behereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of a yard-stickembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the topplate and slide removed, showing the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is acrosssettion thereof. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the sli e.

A represents a yardstick, made hollow and covered with a top plate, B,in which is a longitudinal seat, a.

Within the stick A is a shaft, C, having at its front end aratchet-wheel, b, and at the other end a ruiter-wheel, d, which lattergears with a similar wheel,cl. Behind this latter wheel, and on the sameaxis, is secured a spur-wheel, e, which works in a rack-bar, f, on theunder side of the registering plate or slide D, .provided on its upperface with numerals.

The front end of the shaft C is centered in a suitable plate, upon whichis pivoted the clutch-pawl h and guide c', the whole secured within thestick.

The wheels d, d', and c are held in a frame, also secured within thestick. The registering-plate D slidesiunder the top plate B, the rack fmoving in a groove prepared for it.

The pitch of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel b is equal to the distanceit` is desirable that the plate G should move in order to cover one ofthe units of measurement thereon. The

figures on the slide D appear through the slot a when it is drawn back.

On the top, at the front end, is a spring, E, securely fastened in theend of which is the working-pawl m, provided with a button, G. Thestroke of this pawl is equal to the movement of one of the teeth of theratchet b.

The operation is as follows: All the parts being in position and theplate D drawn back so that all the figures thereon show through the slota, the pawl h is set upon the ratchet b, and the measurement beingaccomplished, the thumb is pressed on the button G, which causes thepawl m, guided by a spring, n, to turn the ratchet the distance of onetooth, the pawl h dropping into the next tooth, and preventing theratchet from turning back when the pressure is relieved from the buttonand the pawl m rises. A compression-spring, p, bears on the hub of theratchet b to equalize the motion.

The motion given to the ratchet is, by the gears above described,conveyed to the rack f, thus moving the plate or slide D an equaldistance forward, and, as the motion is repeated, covering one after theother under the end of the slot a in the top plate B, so that thenumeral appearing first from that end of the slot shall indicate thenumber of times the button G has been depressed. This is repeated asoften as desirable, and when done, by putting back the pawl h andslightly raising the button G, the plate D can be run back to itsstartingpoint, with the left hand pressing against the projection Dl onthe outer end thereof. The spring E may be located on the inside and hidfrom view.

It is evident that by using rollers and dispensing with some of thegearing a flexible band can be substituted for the plate D andaccomplish the same result. y

This device may also be used as a stationary measure and register oncounters.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a yard-stick, A, having slotted top plate B, ofthe slide D, with rack-bar f, the gears c d d, shaft C, ratchet b, andpawl m, with knob G and spring E, substantially as and for the pur- Intestimony that I claim the foregoing I poses herein set forth. havehereunto set my hand this 16th day of 2. The combination of theyard-stick A, February, 1876.

slotted top plate B, slide D, rack-bar f, gears e d d, shaft G, ratchetb, pawl m, pivoted JOHN CONNER" pawl h, springs n p, and knob G, withspring Witnesses: E, al1 constructed substantially as and for the H. A.HALL,

purposes herein set forth. 4 C. L. EVERT.

